Coaching in Graduate Medical Education

Program Directors (PDs) and Assistant Program Directors (APDs) play a critical role in shaping Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs, yet many assume leadership roles without formal preparation for the complex interpersonal, organizational, and well-being challenges they face. This qualitative study examines the impact of structured leadership coaching as an innovative approach to leadership development for GME leaders. Participants will complete five individualized 45-minute coaching sessions over 3–6 months, followed by semi-structured interviews exploring their experiences and perceived growth. Interview transcripts will undergo thematic analysis using systematic coding procedures to identify key themes related to communication, team management, decision-making, emotional intelligence, and professional well-being. Findings will generate practical recommendations for integrating coaching into GME leadership development programs and inform scalable, sustainable models for enhancing leadership capacity in medical education.